Plastic container

ABSTRACT

A plastic container including a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall, a handle at least in part adjacent the neck portion and preferably an integral handle, and a webbed portion adjacent the neck portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/237,803 for PLASTIC CONTAINER, filed Sep. 6, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a blow molded plastic container having a strengthened upper area and improved top load.

It is highly desirable to provide a plastic container having a strengthened upper area under uniform top load as well as off-center top load, for example, that which is applied to the container finish under stacking during storage and transport. Particularly, plastic containers having a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an upper opening therein may be subjected to considerable top load as during storage and transport due for example to stacking. It is desirable to strengthen the upper portion of the plastic container so as to minimize deflection or bending under top load.

Altering the location, size or orientation of the neck portion may provide some improvement, but it is still desirable to address this problem, especially in a simple and expeditious manner.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved plastic container that improves the upper strength characteristics thereof in a simple and convenient manner.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a plastic container with improved top load characteristics.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a container as aforesaid which has good product characteristics.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects and advantages are readily obtained.

The plastic container of the present invention comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall; a handle, preferably an integral handle, adjacent the neck portion, preferably extending from the sidewall to a position adjacent the neck portion; and a webbed portion adjacent the neck portion.

A shoulder portion is preferably provided between the sidewall and the neck portion, wherein the handle has a lower portion extending to the sidewall and an upper portion extending to the shoulder portion adjacent the neck portion. The webbed portion is preferably located on the upper portion of the handle adjacent the neck portion and desirably extending to the shoulder portion.

The webbed portion preferably includes at least one outwardly extending first rib extending along the upper portion of the handle and at least one outwardly extending second rib extending across the first rib. Desirably, a plurality of second ribs extend across the first rib.

The construction of the present invention achieves significant advantages. Thus, the webbing, which may be termed spider webbing, is desirably located at the top of the handle directly below the finish area. This serves to strengthen this area under uniform top load as well as under off-center top load, as that applied to the finish area under stacking during transport and storage. This is highly desirable. The webbing will minimize or prevent the finish area from bending backward towards the handle, for example. In addition, the webbing provides a convenient and helpful thumb-grip feature during pour, handling or transportation of the package.

Further features of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understandable from a consideration of the accompanying exemplificative drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the plastic container of the present invention showing the rear, top and right side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the front, top and right side;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view thereof showing the rear side;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof showing the front side;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view thereof showing the right side; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view thereof showing the left side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, plastic container 10 is a hollow body of plastic material, preferably a blow molded plastic container. The container may be produced from any desired plastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene naphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and others.

Container 10 has a lower supporting base 12, a sidewall 14 extending upwardly from the base, and an upper neck portion 16 with an opening 18 therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall. Opening 18 is desirably closed by a closure (not shown) and threads may be present on the neck portion for a threaded closure. Shoulder portion 20 is preferably provided between the sidewall 14 and neck portion 16, desirably tapering inwardly towards the neck portion. The sidewall may, if desired, include a flat label panel 22 thereon for inclusion of a product identification label, as by an adhesive.

A handle 24, preferably an integral handle, is provided at least in part adjacent the neck portion and desirably extending from the sidewall 14 to a position adjacent the shoulder portion and the neck portion 16 and adjacent opening 18. Preferably the handle is an arm-like structure which at least in part is spaced from the sidewall to create open space 26 beneath the handle and above the sidewall for convenient grasping. In the preferred embodiment handle 24 includes a lower portion 28 extending to the sidewall and an upper portion 30 extending to the shoulder portion.

Webbed portion 32 is provided on the handle upper portion 30 adjacent to neck portion 16 and desirably extending to the shoulder portion 20. The webbed portion includes at least two ribs, which are desirably outwardly extending for ease of holding. In a preferred embodiment the ribs include at least one first rib 34 extending laterally along the handle and at least one second rib 36 extending transversely across the first rib. In a preferred embodiment a single first rib 34 is provided and a plurality of second ribs 36 are provided, with four shown in the drawings.

The supporting base 12 includes a peripheral rim 38 and a recessed central portion 40 suitable for supporting an upper portion of a second container in a stacked arrangement. A secondary peripheral rim 42 may be provided if desired for additional support.

The webbed portion represents a highly advantageous feature. Naturally, the exact number and orientation of the ribs may vary, if desired. Thus, the ribbed portion improves top load and provides greater strength to the upper container portion, as when one pushes down on the container in stacking. Particularly, if the finish is somewhat off-center, the webbed portion aids in supporting the neck portion. In addition, the webbed portion aids in gripping the container particularly when one is pouring out contents, as providing a convenient thumb-grip feature.

The container size is preferably from one-half to three gallons.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims. 

1. A plastic container which comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall; a handle at least in part adjacent the neck portion; and a webbed portion adjacent the neck portion.
 2. A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said handle is an integral handle.
 3. A plastic container according to claim 2, wherein the handle extends from the sidewall to a position adjacent the neck portion.
 4. A plastic container according to claim 3, including a shoulder portion between the sidewall and the neck portion, wherein the handle has a lower portion extending to the sidewall and an upper portion extending to the shoulder portion and adjacent the neck portion.
 5. A plastic container according to claim 4, wherein the webbed portion is located on the upper portion of the handle.
 6. A plastic container according to claim 5, wherein the webbed portion includes at least two outwardly extending ribs.
 7. A plastic container according to claim 6, wherein the webbed portion includes at least one outwardly extending first rib extending laterally along the handle, and at least one outwardly extending second rib extending transversely across the first rib.
 8. A plastic container according to claim 7, wherein the webbed portion includes a plurality of second ribs extending across the first rib.
 9. A plastic container according to claim 3, wherein the container is from one-half gallon to three gallons.
 10. A plastic container according to claim 3, including an open space beneath the handle and above the sidewall.
 11. A plastic container according to claim 10, wherein said container is a blow molded plastic container.
 12. A plastic container according to claim 11, including a recessed base with a peripheral rim. 